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The Coptic Orthodox Church has denied lifting a ban on pilgrimage to occupied Jerusalem as more Egyptian Christians have flown to Israel to visit the holy city in the past few days.

"We continue to follow in the footsteps of late Pope Shenouda III with regard to national and Arab causes as days have proven his far-sightedness," the official Middle East News Agency quoted Bishop Pachomius, who became the acting pope, after Shenouda died last month.

Have your say, as Arabs, Christians and Muslims, Egytpians and non-Egytpians: Do you think Copts should be banned from travelling to Occupied Jerusalem out of principle - or should this ban be waived for religious pilgramage reasons?